Reading Comprehension Passage set 2 for SSC CGL
Reading Comprehension Passage Set 2:
Directions: In She following questions, you have two brief passages with 5 questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives and mark in the answer sheet.
PASSAGE-I
The achievement of science in the twentieth century has been very great. Its influence can be felt in every sphere of life. From the small pins and needles to the huge iron sheets and joints, most of the things we require for our everyday use, come out of factories where scientific principles are utilized for practical ends. Science has enabled man to bring forces of nature under control and to use them for his own advantage. It has brought the distant parts of the world close together. Our knowledge of the universe has been much widened on account of the untiring efforts of the astronomers like Jeans and Eddington. Remarkable cures of human diseases have been possible owing to the discovery of some wonderful medicines.
1. The main idea of the passage is
(a) the impact of science can be felt in every sphere of life
(b) Science is an anathema
(c) nothing is beyond the purview of science
(d) science can work miracles
2. The mode of approach is
(a) logical
(b) anatomical
(c) descriptive
(d) expository
3. What has enabled man to harness the forces of nature to the advantage of mankind?
(a) arts
(b) oratory
(c) bravery
(d) science
4. Science has proved a great boon for
(a) scientists
(b) artists
(c) explorers
(d) mankind
5. The most appropriate title for the passage will be
(a) Science is a curse
(b) Science, a great boon
(c) Achievements of science
(d) None of these
Answer
1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (c)
PASSAGE-II
"Science cannot reduce the magic of a sunset to arithmetic, nor can it express friendship with a formula" observed the eminent medical researcher, Dr. Lous Orr. He added, "also beyond science's mastery of nature are love and laughter, pain and loneliness and insights into truth and beauty". This distancing of science from the human condition perhaps explains why most foreign tourists visiting Britain flock predictably to see the hallowed homes of playwrights, writers and poets, but choose to ignore the habitations where its eminent scientists lived and worked.
1. Why is it that science cannot express friendship with a formula?
(a) Science and friendship cannot coexist.
(b) It is abstract term which cannot be grappled by science.
(c) Friendship is beyond science's mastery.
(d) Friendship is unknown to scientists.
2. The word "magic" refers to
(a) evening dusk
(b) the sunrise
(c) solar and lunar eclipse
(d) setting of the sun with all its beauty
3. Which of the following are beyond science's reach, according to the passage?
(a) love and laughter, pain and loneliness
(b) derivation of a formula
(c) complexity of time and tide
(d) working of the mind
4. The verb 'flock' refers to
(a) tourists in Britain
(b) local people
(c) large number of foreign tourists visiting homes of playwrights, writers, poets
(d) Indian tourists
5. Why according to the author do tourists prefer to visit hallowed homes of playwrights, writers and poets rather than visiting the habitation of eminent scientists?
(a) The houses of playwrights and writers are well decorated and are full of splendour.
(b) Science cannot explain human emotions hence people have a soft corner for those who produce a splendid display of emotions in their work.
(c) Scientists are loathsome.
(d) Houses of scientists are untidy and not well-preserved.
Answer
1.(b) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (b)
PASSAGE-III
If you believe you can, you can. If you believe you cannot, you cannot. Think negatively and you will get a negative result because by your thoughts you create a negative atmosphere which is hospitable to negative results. On the contrary, think positively and you create a positive atmosphere which makes positive results a certainty.
To cultivate positive thinking, speak hopefully about everything. Then feed your mind with good, nourishing and wholesome thoughts. Keep good company of friends who are optimistic. Read scriptures which will cast away your negative thoughts. Lastly, pray a great deal and count the blessings that God has given you. Thus you can overcome negative thoughts of failure and cultivate positive thoughts of success.
1. Think negatively and you will get
(a) bad result
(b) immediate result
(c) negative result
(d) positive result
2. If you want to cultivate positive thinking
(a) you should think and speak hopefully
(b) you should speak boldly
(c) you should speak softly
(d) you should speak loudly
3. The passage is on
(a) Pessimism
(b) Optimism
(c) Tourism
(d) Naturalism
4. What will cast away your negative thoughts?
(a) Newspapers
(b) Magazines
(c) Books
(d) Holy books
5. Which of the following statements is not true?
(a) Good friends elevate our thoughts.
(b) Prayer helps us to keep our mind clean.
(c) It is not possible to change a pessimist into an optimist.
(d) For cultivating optimism, we should always speak hopefully.
Answer
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c)
PASSAGE-IV
Bill Sikes was determined to make one last effort for his life by dropping into the creek, and endeavouring to creep away in the darkness and confusion.
Close by him was a chimney. He set his foot against it, fastened one end of the cord tightly round it, and with the other made a strong running loop. He could let himself down by the cord to within a few feet of the creek then cut it there and drop.
He had his knife ready in his hand, but at the very instant that he brought the loop over his head, something seemed to make him turn. He stared behind him on the roof, and threw his arms above his head and uttered a yell of terror. "The eyes again!" he cried.
Staggering as if struck by lightning, he lost his balance and tumbled over the parapet. The noose was on his neck. It ran up with his weight and tightened. He fell for five-and-thirty feet. There was a sudden jerk - and there he hung, with the open knife still clenched in his stiffening hand.
1. Why did Bill Sikes utter a yell of terror?
(a) He saw a ghost.
(b) He saw a gun pointed at him.
(c) He saw the haunting eyes.
(d) He saw the police.
2. What was found close by Bill Sikes?
(a) A chimney
(b) A stack of cards
(c) A cup of tea
(d) A cake
3. Where did Bill Sikes want to drop?
(a) Into a creek
(b) Into the chimney
(c) Into a sewage pit
(d) Into the river
4. Why did he tumble over the parapet wall?
(a) He lost his balance.
(b) It rained hard.
(c) A title broke away.
(d) The wall was slippery.
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Reading Comprehension Passage set 2 for SSC CGL
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